Ancient Egyptian Mythology and Religion

Ancient Egyptian Mythology and Religion will focus on many aspects of Egyptian religion: conceptions of the divine in a polytheistic context, temple ritual, hymns, personal piety, the relationship between religion and magic, mortuary religion and its evolution and material consequences. Questions will be approached through both study of the primary sources in English translation: myths (very broadly conceived), other religious writings (including mortuary texts such as the Book of the Dead and the Underworld books), as well as art and artifacts connected with religious practice, such as amulets and votives. In addition, students will read the standard secondary source analyses by noted historians of Egyptian religion and critique them based on the primary sources.